Cloth Paper Scissors had all the bases covered again in 2017: painting, collage, journaling, book making, jewelry, and more. A plethora of artists shared their ideas, experiences, and techniques in essays, artwork, and how-to articles. It was a year of discovery and creative adventure. This 2017 Collection has every issue, in its entirety. Just think of the convenience of having all of that wonderfulness at your fingertips, whether home or away, for creative mixed-media inspiration. Here are six ideas from 2017 that will help keep you in the creative mode.
1. Make a vision board: The January/February was all about starting the New Year right, and had all kinds of projects to energize your creativity. Rae Missigman had a plan to create every day, and made and shared a vision board to keep her on track. Her board held a collection of simple, colorful reminders of things that motivate her to create. What were your New Year intentions? What would you display on your vision board?
2. Change it up. In the March/April issue, Irene Rafael captured the hearts of many with her Tea Bag Ladies. An avid tea drinker, Irene created intriguing mixed-media portraits on used tea bags. This article is just one of the many articles and ideas on creating for you and your home. What household items do you use every day that you may be able to use for art making?
3. Take a second look at everyday items. Leaves, aluminum foil, and vinegar are just a few of the everyday items artists used to make unique artwork for the May/June issue. Wen Redmond printed on leaves, Lisa Thorpe created dimensional embellishments with aluminum foil, and Debora Mauser used vinegar to add patina to her bracelet project. And that’s just the beginning. Take a look around and see what everyday items you might have on hand to take your art in a new direction.
4. Take it on the road. Just because you’re traveling, it doesn’t mean you can’t be making art. The July/August issue is full of tips, tricks, and techniques for making mixed-media art on the go. Whether you take supplies with you or use items you find along the way, you can make art wherever you go. You just have to be open to new experiences: sketch in a café; collect all kinds of interesting fodder, materials and tools as you travel; paint and collage anywhere and everywhere. This issue has you covered.
5. Challenge yourself. The September/October issue set out to challenge readers to try something new: encaustic. Starting with an encaustic primer, readers were treated to a variety of projects to get acquainted with encaustic, and then to fly with the various techniques and projects. Encaustic is intriguing, and a lot easier then you may think. If you haven’t tried encaustic yet, now’s the time!
6. Build added meaning into your art. Incorporate pages from a well-loved book. Use someone’s favorite colors. Include bits of a special someone’s clothing in your mixed-media art. Every choice you make when creating a piece of art adds meaning. In the November/December issue, artist shared a variety of techniques for making one-of-a-kind gifts. Blair Stocker used outgrown clothing and favorite textiles to create a hand-stitched paintbrush roll-up that’s perfect for any artist on your list. Doreen Kassell’s ornaments can be customized to fit any personality. There is plenty of inspiration in this issue, whether you’re looking to make a gift, or would just like to try something new.
This is just a taste of what the Cloth Paper Scissors 2017 Collection has to offer. If you missed any of the issues, now’s the time to catch up.